Chinese-ginger

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese-ginger
• lesser galanga
• lesser galangal

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Alpinia graminifolia
• Languas officinarum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Zingiberales, it is classified under the family Zingiberaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Alpinia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed throughout specific regions of Southeast Asia and East Asia. In China, its presence is noted in Hainan and across China Southeast. Moving into the Indo-China peninsula, it can be found growing in Cambodia. The species also inhabits various parts of Myanmar within the same region. Finally, its geographical range extends into Vietnam, completing its documented distribution.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Alpinia officiinarum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a geophyte, relying on underground storage organs to survive unfavorable environmental conditions and emerge during favorable periods. Furthermore, its biological classification identifies it as a cryptophyte, meaning its vital regenerative buds are protected beneath the soil surface, ensuring its long-term survival and ability to re-establish its growth cycle annually.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Alpinia officinarum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. The plant typically reaches an average height of approximately 1.1 m and functions as a self-supporting organism, exhibiting no climbing or vining tendencies. It grows as an independent species, meaning it is not a parasite, and it maintains a terrestrial life habit rather than being an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Alpinia officinarum is characterized by a robust metabolic framework centered on its rhizomatous growth habit, which serves as the primary site for nutrient storage and secondary metabolite synthesis. The plant undergoes complex biochemical processes to produce essential essential oils and bioactive compounds, such as terpenoids and phenolic derivatives, which are synthesized through specialized metabolic pathways within the parenchymatous tissues of the rhizomes. Its nutrient acquisition relies on a conventional root system capable of absorbing minerals and water from the soil, but it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria necessary for atmospheric gas conversion; therefore, it is not a nitrogen fixer. Consequently, the plant depends entirely on the availability of nitrogen in the soil medium to support its vegetative growth, photosynthetic activity, and the energetic demands of its secondary metabolism.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Alpinia officinarum has 4 reported plant parts identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, leaf, stem, root.

Rhizome

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Fitoterapia
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
4. Natural product research
5. Chemistry & biodiversity

Leaf

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Stem

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Alpinia officinarum has 54 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Galangin, 1'-Acetoxychavicol acetate, 1,7-Diphenylhept-4-en-3-one, 1,7-diphenyl-5-hydroxy-3-heptanone, 1,8-Cineole.

Galangin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Advances in dental research

1'-Acetoxychavicol acetate

1. Methods (San Diego, Calif.)

1,7-Diphenylhept-4-en-3-one

1. Dr. Duke

1,7-diphenyl-5-hydroxy-3-heptanone

1. Dr. Duke

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke

1-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-7-phenylheptane-3,5-diol

1. Dr. Duke

2,6-Dimethyl-6-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene

1. Journal of pharmaceutical analysis

3,5,7-Trihydroxyflavone

1. Dr. Duke

5-epihexahydrocurcumin

1. Dr. Duke

5-hydroxy-1,7-diphenylheptan-3-one

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Alpinia officinarum has 354 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Carminative, Neuroprotective, Stimulant, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic.

Carminative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

Stimulant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Alpinia officinarum has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include rheumatism, Candida albicans, arthritis, cancer, epilepsy.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations